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Junta engineers World Cup coup for Thailand

By THANYARAT DOKSONEJOCELYN GECKER
Published June 12, 2014 12:16pm ET
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Junta engineers World Cup coup for Thailand
Thai students play soccer under expressway in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 12, 2014. On Thursday, the National Broadcasting and Telecoms Commission announced it had struck a 427 million baht ($13 million) compensation deal with RS so the entire World Cup can be shown on free channels.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) | Sakchai Lalit

BANGKOK (AP) — The military junta that overthrew Thailand’s elected government struck a blow for freedom Thursday — the freedom to watch soccer.

As part of its goal to “return happiness to the Thai people,” the junta engineered a World Cup coup that will enable the country’s many soccer fans to watch all of the tournament’s 64 matches for free.

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